Wheel-manufacturing machine



May -12, 1925.

H. FLICK WHEEL MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I A TTORNEYS.

May 12, 1925. 1,537,662

H. FLICK WHEEL MANUFACTURING MACHINE Fi st. 4, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Fatented May 12, 1925i entree STATES PATENT series.

HENRY FLICK, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A'SSIGNOR T0 HAYES WHEEL COMPANY, OF

JACKSON, MICHIGAN. I

WHEEL-MANUFACTURING MACHINE.

Application filed October 4, 1921. Serial No. 505,244.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IENRY FLIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, county of Jackson, State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVheel-Manutacturing Machines, of which the following is a specification. 7 i

This invention relates to improvements in wheel manufacturing machines.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a machine and process for rapidly[ manufacturing wood wheels, particularly with metallic tires.

Second, to provide a machine and process for quickly assembling properly initred spokes in a metallic telly.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

The objects of the invention are accoms plished by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. 7

A. structure which is a preferred embodiment of the invention is fully'illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view of the machine in use showing the vacant table and tables with spokes in place and with the press in elevated position over a wheel telly filled with spokes ready to press- Fig. II is a plan view of the turntable, the supporting column being shown in section, showing the disposition and arrange-.

ment of the empty disks.

Fig. III is a detall perspective view of a single table and arm of the turntable under the press showing the press down and the.

wheel in completed form, all the tables being the same.

,view on line ing cut in section to show the tise and tenon. i

In the drawing similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional. views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing by their numbers, 1 is the base. 2 is an upright cylindrical supporting column for the machine. 3 is the main central hub of the turntable of the machine turning on a suitable bearing on collar 4.

This turntable is provided with radial arms 5 each carrying identical table disks and wheel assembling means comprising the circular table 6 with the vertically movable assembling ring 7 containing the notches 7- The ring and plate 6 are for the spokes. retained securely'in'place by bolts 8 having lock nuts 9 at their upper ends, (see Fig. V) springs 10 being interposed on the'bolts bespoke morncath the said ring 7 and above table 6. r The ring 7 1s of the inside diameter of the telly or rim 11 into which spokesare to be inserted. I

A metal rim of the usual form containing spoke mortises 11,see Fig. V, is shown in position. A central depressible plunger 12, cylindrical in form, is adapted to reciprocate within a hub 12at the outer end of each arm 5 and through a central opening in the plate 6. This plunger is shouldered at 13 to limit itsupward movement and is held yieldingly in its upper position by the spring let there-beneathdisposed upon the stud 15 on the cross yoke 151, supported by hanger arms 152,-see Fig. V. A bar 153 with seat 154 is secured to the yoke by cap screws 155 and is adjustable by means of set screws 156. A stop bar 157 is held in the seat by screws 158.

On the flange 16 at the upper end of the plunger 12 is secured bifurcated radial arms l'l'for receiving and locating the inner heads of spokes,-see particularly Fig. V. The spokes 18 are disposed between the lingers oil these arms with their tenon ends 181 dis posed within the mortises 11.

A plunger 19 with a tapered plu 20 and flange 21 is disposed to enter the space be screw 23 to the piston rod 24 otthe steam cylinder 25 above,-see Fig. I, This steam cylinder is not detailed, as such structures are common tor plunger purposes.

This cylinder is supportedby the bracket 26 on the central column 2 and is provided with a hand throttle.

28 is the indexing standard provided with the yielding latch 29 held upwardly by the spring 30 having a beveledsurtace 29 to permit the locating or stop bar 157 of each table to swing to position. Stop latch 31 is held upwardly by spring 32 and is depressed by the link 33 connected to the lever 34, which is provided with toot pedal 35 so that when the table is swung to position, it is located automatically by depressing the latch 29, which permits'the' stop bar 157 to swing against the depressible latch 31. \Vhen the plunger has been operated the machine is released and can be swung to the next position.

In operation the work begins tor the production ot leach wheel by the heating of the telly 11 atter the manner 0t heating tires, preliminary to setting the same. Theexpanded telly is placed upon the table '6 concentric with the ring 7 at the first station, the machine is swung one step in advance and the next man at the second station places one-halt ot the spokes 18, namely, six, in one-halt of the wheel. While he is placing the spokes the next telly is being placed upon the table that has now swung to the first station. As soon as this work is done the machine is swung to the next position, when the balance of spokes is put in place at the third station, the second man setting up his halt ot the spokes ot the next succeeding wheel at the second station. The wheel with the spokes all in position in inclined relation is then swung to the tourth station under the steam cylinder plunger 25., it being located by the latch means, as seen in Fig. V. hen the plunger is operated the center passes down between the spokes, the beveled portions crowd the same outwardly against the rim and the flange 21 presses the spokes into flat relation at the center otthe wheel, the wheel being dished or not, as desired. The operator then elevates the plunger and depresses the pedal '35 and removes the wheel, passing the empty table to the first station to receive another expanded telly. In this way it will be observed that it takes tour men to operate the machine to advantageone at each of the tour stations. Great advantage in division ot labor results trom the turntable and its stations. However, the whole operation might be done at a single station.

The process might be otherwise pertormcd-by disposing the spokes in conical l/Vhen this'w'ork is accomplished relation with their tenons in the mortises ot the rim, pressing the inner ends of the spokes at the center of the wheel and pernitting the telly to contract.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for assembling wheels com prising a turntable with a plurality 0t arms, a circular table carried by each arm, a depressible central locating ring 'tor receiving an expanded telly outside thereot and provided with spoke notches to receive spokes, a depressible plunger center with radial arms tor receiving the spokes, a plunger with tapered plug tor engaging the inner ends of the spokes and with a flange tor pressing the same to position, means tor actuating the plunger, and means tor locating the tables successively under the plunger, coacting as specified.

2. A machine tor assembling wheels comprising a turn table with a plurality of arms, a circular table carried by each arm,

a central locatingring for receiving an.

expanded telly outside thereot and provided with spoke notches to receive the spokes, a depressible center with radial arms tor receiving the spokes, a plunger means withtapered plug tor engaging the inner ends ot the spokes .and with a flange tor pressing thev same to position located to receive the said tables when they are swung successivelythereto, coacting as specified.

3. In a machine for assembling wheels, the combination of a circiular table with a depressible central locating ring for receiving an expanded telly outside thereot, a depressible plunger center with radial arms for receiving the spokes, and a plunger with tapered plug tor engaging the inner ends of the spokes and with a flange tor pressing the same to position, coacting as specified.

4;. In a machine for assembling wheels, the combination of a circular table with a depressible cent-rallocating ring for receiving an expanded telly outside thereof and provided with spoke notches to re- .ceive thespokes, a depressible plunger center, and a plunger with tapered plug tor engaging theinner ends of 'the spokes and with a flange tor pressing the same to po:

sition, coacting as specified.

5. In a machine for assembling wheels, the combination of a circular table with a depressible central locating ring tor receiving an expanded telly outside thereof, a depressible plunger center, and a plunger with a flange tor pressing the same to position, coacting as specified.

'6. Ina machine for assembling wheels, the combination of a circular table with a depressible central locating ring tor receiv ing an expanded telly outside thereof and memes previclecl with spoke notches tn receive the centering and locating device; wherebythe spokes, a clepressible plunger center with work plates be swung my Successivev radial arms for receiving the spokes, and stations, and a plunger press means located a plunger for pressing the same to posi- Over the Work plate at one of the stations tion, coacting as specified. for forcing the spokes to place, coactlng as .15

7 A machine for assembling Wheels comp dprising a turn table With a plurality of In Wltness whereof: I have hereunto S arms, a circular Work plate carried by each y hand and Sealarm having a depressible central locating V spider with radial arms, and a metal felly HENRY FLIGK. [11.3.] 

